Telecoms

Central Africa
World Bank earmarks $265m to expand internet coverage in Central Africa

The project, known as CARDIP, is still at the planning stage. It aims to increase access to the internet in the Economic Community of Central African States.

Ethiopia
Abiy tests loyalties as power shifts in Oromia

The resumption of the conflict in the north is reshaping plans for a reshuffle. While the prime minister appears intent on closing ranks around allies from the Information Network Security Administration, the president of Oromia has managed to stay in office, at least on the surface.

Cameroon
Vietnam's Viettel tries to protect its investments in telecoms operator Nexttel

In a letter dated 25 August and addressed to President Paul Biya, CEO Tao Duc Thang is requesting his investments and stake in Viettel Cameroun (70%), which operates under the Nexttel brand name, be protected.

Cameroon
MTN Cameroon nears €150m financing

Several local banks have been brought together to form the lending syndicate. The transaction is expected to close in full by the end of September.

Morocco
Royal Air Maroc hook-up with Starlink Wi-Fi to go ahead

After months of negotiations, RAM and SpaceX's subsidiary specialising in satellite internet access have finally reached an agreement that will enable Elon Musk's company to equip the national airline's entire fleet by 2027.

Palace Intrigues
Omar-Denis Junior Bongo, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Félix Tshisekedi

Intrigues big and small: Every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

CongoDenis Sassou-Nguesso's children scope out Libreville ahead of Omar-Denis Junior Bongo wedding

GabonBrice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and Emmanuel Macron dine with figures from football, business and culture

DRCKinshasa elite gather for exclusive reception

Cameroon
Tycoon Baba Danpullo launches new investment fund in Douala

The Cameroonian entrepreneur at the head of the Baba Ahmadou Group has teamed up with pan-African investment fund Kessner Capital Management to create a joint venture called Danpullo Capital.

DRC
Government takes legal action in plate registry dispute with Valornet

With its contract with the firm reaching its end in the coming weeks, the government has turned to the courts to obtain the transfer of a digital number plate registry. Such oversight is essential to the rollout of a new deal entrusted to Belgian firm Castillo Valere.

Cameroon
US firm Wave Mobile Money proceeds with caution

Although well established in West Africa, the fintech start-up has been struggling to gain a foothold in the Cameroonian market for the past year. Competitors Orange and MTN are defending their positions, forcing the company to adapt its strategy.

Kenya, Madagascar
Ruto and Randrianirina's unexpected closer relationship

Invited to Antananarivo to celebrate 66 years of independence, the Kenyan president is making his first visit to the country. Despite the island's suspension from the African Union following the Colonel's coup, relations between the two states have strengthened in recent months.

Ethiopia
Safaricom seeks new loan from International Finance Corp

The Kenyan operator, which entered the Ethiopian market in 2022, is considering taking out a loan in local currency. The annual credit limit imposed by the central bank has hindered the telecommunications group's ability to secure capital to finance its operations.

Morocco
Atlas Cloud emerges as preferred provider to state for data storage

A subsidiary and technological arm of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, led by former OCP Group executive Reda Loudiyi, the data centre has signed several direct contracts with public bodies.

Cameroon
Presidency orders checks in MTN–Danpullo dispute

A complaint forwarded by the National Anti-Corruption Commission to the presidency's secretary-general, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, has accused Littoral Court of Appeal presiding judge, Emmanuel Arroye Betou, of alleged corruption linked to the lifting of seizures on telecoms group MTN Cameroon's accounts.

Morocco
Key players behind Intelcia transition, as Altice withdraws capital

The co-founders of the Moroccan flagship call centre company, Karim Bernoussi and Youssef el-Aoufir, have surrounded themselves with key support to successfully carry out their operation to buy out Patrick Drahi's shares. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of April.

Morocco
Nexus Core Systems makes headway in data centre project

The consortium behind the construction of a $1.2bn data centre has chosen to locate the site on the outskirts of Casablanca.

Morocco
Starlink struggles to make a connection with the kingdom

Since 2024, Elon Musk's satellite internet access provider has been trying in vain to get a foothold in Morocco. The SpaceX constellation faces stubborn resistance from Morocco's major telecommunications firms.

DRC
Tshisekedi clan favours Ghana's Margins Group for biometric ID card contract

Discussions with the Accra-based firm are said to be drawing to a conclusion. The company can count on the support of several people in President Félix Tshisekedi's inner circle to clinch the lucrative deal.

Ethiopia
Backers wary of electoral commission's digital strategy

In line with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's technological ambitions, the electoral commission is seeking to develop digital tools for the 2026 elections. However, a lack of funding is hampering their deployment.

Cameroon
Nigerian tycoon Muhammadu Indimi's low key visit to Yaoundé

The chairman of the Oriental Energy Resources oil group made a trip to the capital this summer, lining up a series of high-level meetings.